Schools

UPDATE Councilman Eric Dinowitz Calls on DOE to Investigate Education Council District 14’s Sponsorship of “Divisive Rally”

By SÍLE MOLONEY
District 11 City Council Member Eric Dinowitz released a statement on Thursday, Nov. 9, condemning what he referred to as the antisemitic call for a walkout earlier that day by students calling for a ceasefire in the Middle East, after the breakout of war in the region following the Hamas attacks on southern Israel on Oct. 7, the kidnapping of around 240 Israeli hostages by Hamas, and the subsequent shelling and ground invasion of the Palestinian Gaza Strip by Israeli Defense forces since Oct. 8.

Elections 2023: Democratic CM Marjorie Velázquez Concedes District 13 Race to Republican Kristy Marmorato

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Democratic District 13 City Council Member Marjorie Velázquez conceded the general election in her district held Nov. 7 to her Republican opponent, Kirsty Marmorato, on Thursday, Nov. 9. As reported, Marmorato had a narrow lead on Velázquez on Election Night at poll closure with 49.97 percent of the vote to Velázquez’s 49.25 percent, but a few hours later, with 98.33 percent of voting scanners returned, Marmorato’s lead had stretched to 52.46 percent (6,571 votes) to Velázquez’s 46.81 percent (5,863 votes), based on Election Day and early votes. The Republican candidate who ran a campaign based on quality of life and public safety concerns, declared victory in the race later that night.

TAKE 5 Top-Prize Lottery Ticket Sold in The Bronx

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York Lottery announced one top-prize winning ticket was sold in The Bronx for the Oct 31 TAKE 5 Evening drawing. The ticket was sold at Fairfield Food Inc., located at 2525 3rd Avenue, and was worth $17,751.50.

Soundview: 100+ Pounds of Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Heroin Seized in Bronx Pizzeria

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Over 100 pounds of suspected cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, and oxycodone, carrying an estimated street value of $4 million, was seized by law enforcement from a Bronx pizzeria last week, officials said. The seizure, part of an ongoing investigation into drug trafficking in New York City, was carried out by federal, State and local law enforcement officers at Mexzzarella Pizza in the Soundview/Clason Point section of The Bronx, officials said. 

Wage Increases & Student Benefits Part of Draft Labor Agreement with School Supervisors & Administrators

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the Office of Labor Relations (OLR) Commissioner Renee Campion announced on Saturday, Oct. 21, that the City of New York has reached a tentative five-plus-year contract agreement with the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators (CSA). They said the agreement will cover approximately 6,400 municipal employees, bringing the total workforce under contract, once ratified, to approximately 88 percent. 

Mosholu Fall Festival a Success Despite Rain

By MIRIAM QUIÑONES
The Annual Mosholu Fall Festival organized by Future of Mosholu Parkland (FOMP) was held on Saturday, Oct. 7, at P.S. 8’s Mosholu Playground in Bedford Park, and despite the rain, the vibe was positive and there were lots of happy faces seen underneath many hooded rain macs.

Gibson Launches “31 Days of Action Against DV” Awareness Campaign as North Bronx Sees Highest DV Rates

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson launched Domestic Violence Awareness Month at Bronx Borough Hall on Monday, Oct. 2. She was joined by elected officials, advocates, survivors, the DiVA (domestic violence awareness) coalition, and her domestic violence advisory council for the occasion. Gibson declared domestic violence a public health crisis in the borough and unveiled her “31 Days of Action Against DV” public awareness campaign.

Belmont: Four Arrested in One of NYC’s “Largest Ever” Fentanyl Raids Steps from 2nd Bronx Daycare Center

By DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY
The NYPD, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) raided a family home at 2337 Beaumont Avenue in the Belmont section of The Bronx on Thursday, Oct. 5, and four people were taken into custody. The raid was carried out steps away from the back of a fenced off area where children played at Belmont Community Day Care Center, located at 2340 Cambreleng Avenue.